DeFi platforms demonstrate remarkable resilience and operational efficiency, effectively handling challenges such as liquidations and attacks while continuing to evolve. Despite a decline in venture capital and shifting external narratives, the overall health of DeFi suggests a state of consolidation, indicative of an early or mid-cycle phase rather than a late-cycle downturn. The current landscape contradicts the pessimistic views of late-cycle doomers, underscoring the importance of recognizing the ongoing positive dynamics in decentralized finance.